Zambia and Tanzania Strengthen Trade Cooperation at Bilateral Meeting
Zambia and Tanzania have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties through enhanced cross-border trade facilitation at the Fourth Bilateral Trade Senior Officials Meeting held in Nakonde, Muchinga Province.
Opening the session, Zambia’s Permanent Secretary for Trade and Commerce, Mrs Lillian S. Bwalya, highlighted the importance of continued dialogue in addressing emerging trade and non-trade concerns. She said the ultimate goal was to create a predictable and efficient trading environment that would spur economic development and prosperity for both nations.
The meeting, held between 18–20 August 2025, followed directives by President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania to strengthen bilateral trade relations. It brought together senior government officials and technical experts, whose preparatory work Mrs Bwalya praised as laying the foundation for productive deliberations.
Mrs Bwalya noted that recent high-level engagements, including President Hassan’s 2023 State Visit to Lusaka and President Hichilema’s 2022 visit to Tanzania, had advanced key trade and infrastructure initiatives. She also acknowledged Tanzania’s donation of a cargo scanner to Zambia, which she said would enhance efficiency at the Nakonde border once installed.
Key focus areas of the talks included eliminating trade barriers, harmonising regulations, enhancing border infrastructure, and aligning bilateral trade efforts with regional and multilateral commitments, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mrs Bwalya also commended Tanzania’s leadership during its tenure as Chair of the AfCFTA, pledging that Zambia, now Second Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau, would uphold the same level of commitment.
Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Dr Hashil T. Abdallah, highlighted progress made since the third Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting in Tunduma in April 2024.
He said priorities such as improvements at the Nakonde-Tunduma One-Stop Border Post, harmonisation of customs procedures, and infrastructure upgrades remained central to both countries’ trade agenda.
Dr Abdallah emphasised the importance of aligning bilateral cooperation with regional frameworks under the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He expressed confidence that through open dialogue, technical expertise, and goodwill, Zambia and Tanzania would consolidate gains made so far and set new milestones for future cooperation.
The outcomes of the Nakonde meeting will be submitted to Ministers from both countries for consideration in the coming months.
